Holland Historical Trust officials make big plans for future

Friday

Jun 27, 2014 at 12:35 PM

By Annette.Manwell@hollandsentinel.com(616) 546-4270

If the millage request by the Holland Historical Trust is passed by voters, they could start seeing a lot of changes — positive changes that would include more jobs at the museums, such as a full-time educator and a development director who would work to develop the endowment, sponsorships and grants, HHT Executive Director Chris Shires said.The 0.2 mill tax levy request will be decided Nov. 4 by voters in the city of Holland and Park and Holland townships. The levy would cost the average homeowner in Holland about $15 annually, Shires said.One mill equals $1 per each $1,000 of a property’s assessed value. Property taxes are calculated by multiplying the property’s assessed value by the mill rate, then dividing by 1,000. A property with an assessed value of $50,000 with a mill rate of 20 mills would have a property tax bill of $1,000 per year.One change that will be seen soon is in the Dutch Galleries, the second floor of the Holland Museum. Thanks to a state of Michigan Historic Preservation grant, the windows at the museum are getting a makeover — as a historic building, the windows cannot be replaced. Storm windows will also be installed, Shires said.As the windows deteriorated over time, some of the pieces in the Dutch Galleries were put into temperature-controlled storage to keep them safe from the moisture in the air.The original display in the Dutch Galleries told a narrative story through the paintings, Shires said. The way it is set up now, it is basically an art gallery.Once this project is completed, the trust will host an event to coincide with the the 100th anniversary of the building, which was originally the Holland post office. That event will include removing the time capsule in the cornerstone of the building. Shires said. There will also be a post office exhibit that celebrates the building and the postal service.The staff are also hoping to improve the main gallery of the museum, Shires said. The goal would be to make that gallery, which focuses on Holland’s history, be more relevant to visitors.Patrons could also see changes in how the Cappon House operates, hopefully in such a way that it becomes a resource, or a community hub, for the residents of Washington Boulevard area.Officials at the trust are also hoping to partner with Hope College, which is building an art center, to find ways for staff to share duties at each or share resources and equipment for cost savings. Another idea is to work with the college on a yearlong art history course that would include a semester of art history class and a semester of working in the museum.“There are so many terrific ideas that can be built over time,” said Jim Brooks, local philanthropist and supporter of the trust. “Once the funding is stable.”“We’re willing to try whatever we can to move this forward,” Shires said. “We will be stronger in the end.”He asks people to “come and see what an incredible museum this is,” before going to the polls.— Follow this reporter on Facebook or Twitter, @SentinelNetty.